Going... Going... But Not Gone!

August days fly by quickly, and we feel like summer reading is going... going... but not gone!  This summer, fifth grade Math and Science teacher Mr. Cronin recommends a reading road trip of sorts, Go Go America: 50 States of Fun by Dan Yaccarino (71 pages, RL 5.9).  Did you know that Thomas Edison was a judge in the first recorded bathing beauty contest?  And did you know that Vermont produces more maple syrup than any other state?  The book presents hundreds of wildly entertaining facts about our fifty states, describing strange festivals, curious contests, weird laws, and wondrous landmarks across the country.

Mr. Cronin suggests a late-summer reading road trip!

Go Go with a Newbery Medal-Winning Dog Story:  Shiloh by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor (137 pages, RL 4.4).  When Marty finds a young beagle in the hills behind his West Virginia home, it’s love at first sight... and also big trouble for Marty and his family.  The dog belongs to Judd Travers, a mean-spirited man known to hunt out of season and to abuse his dogs.  How far will Marty have to go to save Shiloh?  Ally created a book trailer:

A Story for the Dog Days of Summer: In Where the Red Fern Grows: The Story of Two Dogs and a Boy by Wilson Rawls (212 pages, RL 6.4), Billy, a young boy living in the Ozark Mountains, acquires two redbone hounds— Big Dan and Little Ann—and trains them to be the finest hunters in the valley. Cade K. recommends this classic adventure set in the hills of Cherokee country. 

Into the Wild with Classic Dog Stories:  Jack B. highly recommends The Call of the Wild and White Fang by Jack London (485 pages, RL 7.7).  In The Call of the Wild, a dog is kidnapped from his sunny home to become a gold rush sledge dog in the Alaskan Klondike.  Buck reverts to wilderness life and becomes leader of a wolf pack.  In companion novel White Fang, a young wolf-dog cub is trained to be a vicious fighter and struggles to live in a world of dogs and humans.  Jack B. shares, "My dad read White Fang when he was a kid, and I loved it.  It really engages the reader."

Vedant and Peter H. recommend Hatchet.

Into the Wild with a Lafayette Favorite: Hannah S. recommends Hatchet (186 pages, RL 5.7) and the companion Brian Books by Gary Paulsen.  After a plane crash, thirteen-year-old Brian spends fifty-four days in the Canadian wilderness, learning to survive with a hatchet given to him by his mother—and dealing with the emotional toll of his parents’ divorce.  Take a look at a book trailer created by Milo and Andrew:

Survival on a Desert Island:  Reese, Alice, Nolan, and Allison recommend Kensuke’s Kingdom by Michael Morpurgo (164 pages, RL 4.3).  When Michael is swept off his family’s yacht, he washes ashore on an island, where he struggles to survive on his own... until he discovers he is not alone.  LAS readers call the book "suspenseful... exciting... interesting... a fun adventure."

More Wild Ocean Adventure: Windcatcher by Avi (120 pages, RL 5.3).  Tony is learning to sail during a visit to his grandmother’s home on the Connecticut coast.  Rumors of sunken treasure capture his interest, and he begins following a mysterious couple who seem to be searching for something in the Long Island Sound.

Windcatcher project by Sophie T.

Exploring the Great Outdoors with Andrew Clements: A Week in the Woods (190 pages, RL 5.3).  Hardy Elementary School’s annual week-long camping trip in the New Hampshire woods tests fifth-grader Mark's survival skills and his ability to relate to Mr. Maxwell, a teacher who seems to think that Mark is a rich, know-it-all slacker.  After reading this story about first impressions, fairness, and courage, Alex W. made a list:

Ten Things You'll Probably Need in the Woods

1. a tent

2. a sleeping bag

3. lots of water

4. food

5. a compass

6. a map

7. fire making stuff

8. a cooking pot

9. hiking footwear

10. an axe

Back to School Shopping with Andrew Clements: In No Talking by Andrew Clements (146 pages, RL 5.0), the noisy fifth grade boys of Laketon Elementary School challenge the equally loud fifth grade girls to a No Talking contest.  Eitan M. likes the author's writing style and recommends this book to talkative Lafayette readers. 

Meanwhile, in Lunch Money, also by Andrew Clements (222 pages, RL 5.4), twelve-year-old money-making genius Greg is surprised to find himself teaming up with neighbor and rival Maura to create a comic book series to sell at school.  Olivia R. recommends this novel about friendship, school, and money matters to friends looking for a smooth back-to-school read. 

Late Summer Special: Newbery Medal Winners!  In Dead End in Norvelt by Jack Gantos (341 pages, RL 5.7), twelve-year-old Jack Gantos spends the summer of 1962 grounded for various offenses.  Life gets interesting when he helps an elderly neighbor with a chore, one involving the newly dead, Girl Scout cookies, underage driving, and bloody noses: 

An Unforgettable Newbery Medal Winner: The One and Only Ivan by Katherine Applegate (305 pages, RL 3.6).  Inspired by the true story of a captive gorilla named Ivan, the story unfolds from Ivan’s point of view as he sees his glass-enclosed-shopping-mall world through the eyes of Ruby, a baby elephant newly taken from the wild.  Alexa L. calls this tale of unexpected friendship "a great book that pulls your emotions and keeps you at the edge of your seat."

The One and Only Ivan project by Anna and Jessie.

Summer Reading: It's going... going... but not gone yet!  

Let's go go to the library, the book store, the book shelf.  

And let's get reading!

Spy Time: Clued Into Summer Reading!

Mrs. Snyder reads with a skeleton friend.

Psst... psst... you!  Yes, you!  Have you read any good books lately?  At the Book Beach, we're putting on our sleuthing sunglasses and gumshoe flip-flops, hot on the trail of cool summer reading suggestions.  First up, Mrs. Snyder recommends Liar and Spy by Rebecca Stead (180 pages, RL 3.8).  The fifth grade math and science teacher declares, this is a great mystery, perfect for summer reading." 

Here's the Story: As seventh-grader Georges adjusts to life in a Brooklyn apartment, he also deals with his father’s efforts to start a new business, his mother’s extra shifts as a nurse, and bullying problems at school.  And then there’s Safer, a twelve-year-old coffee-drinking loner, who enlists his help spying on Mr. X, a mysterious resident of their building….

Ethan L. shares the name of a good book.

The Secret is Out: For readers looking for a good mystery and detective story (mixed with a little magic), Ethan L. recommends The Name of This Book Is Secret by Pseudonymous Bosch (360 pages, RL 5.6).  Cassandra and Max find a notebook and investigate a fire that burned down a missing magician's house and destroyed his mysterious "symphony of smells." 

Take a look at a book trailer created by Ryan C:

A Spy Story!  In Spy School by Stuart Gibbs (290 pages, RL 5.3), twelve-year-old Ben Ripley leaves his public middle school to attend the CIA's Espionage Academy, a top-secret institute operating under the guise of an elite science school.  Here’s a top-secret book trailer, created by Dennis, Garrett, Jack, and Sachin:

More Spying!  In Spy Camp, also by Stuart Gibbs ( 321 pages, RL 5.2), Ben Ripley—now almost thirteen—continues his studies at the CIA’s academy for future intelligence agents.  As he prepares to attend spy summer camp, he receives a dire threat from the evil organization SPYDER.  Garrett, Jack, and Sachin created this book trailer:

Creature Feature:  In Belly Up, another great summer read from Stuart Gibbs (294 pages, RL 5.6), twelve-year-old Teddy and his friend Summer investigate the murder of Henry the Hippopotamus, star attraction at a popular Texas zoo.  Nick B. appreciates the action, the mystery... and the map of the zoo in the book!

Nick B. directs our reading attention to Belly Up.

Teddy M. on the Book Beach.

Caught Reading!  A few weeks ago, Book Beach detectives spied Lafayette student Teddy M. reading The Strange Case of Origami Yoda by Tom Angleberger (141 pages, RL 4.7).  In this first Origami Yoda book, sixth-grader Tommy and friends try to figure out if classmate Dwight's paper Yoda finger puppet can really predict the future.

Darth Paper Strikes Back diorama by Willy C.

A Fortunate Series of Unfortunate Events: The Bad Beginning by Lemony Snicket (162 pages, RL 6.4).  Eliza N. recommends this first book in the series to friends, sharing, "I love this book because it always has you on your toes!"  After the sudden death of their parents, the three Baudelaire children must depend on each other—and their wits—when the evil Count Olaf, a distant relative who has been appointed their guardian, is determined to use any means necessary to steal their fortune.  

Fortunately, Lilly R. created a book trailer!

Spy Series: In NERDS: National Espionage, Rescue, and Defense Society by Michael Buckley (306 pages, RL 5.3), five misfits run a spy network from their school, combining talents and cutting-edge gadgetry to battle evil around the world.  Jacob C. recommends this book to "fourth and fifth graders everywhere... It has secret agents... and a secret base under a school.  What's better than that?"

School Series Makes a Splash: In Regarding the Fountain by Kate Klise (138 pages, RL 5.8), the principal asks a fifth grader to write a letter regarding the purchase of a new drinking fountain for their school, resulting in all sorts of entertaining chaos and correspondence. 

Regarding the Fountain booklet designed by LAS reader/artist.
Look for more fountains on the right sidebar!

Take an Imagination Vacation: In The Egypt Game by Zilpha Keatley Snyder (215 pages, RL 6.4), Melanie and April turn an abandoned lot into an imaginary Egypt where they spend hours conducting rituals and consulting oracles.  But real dangers lurking outside their make-believe world threaten to end the game. 

Egyptian Mask by Mia G.

Another Imagination Vacation: In The Doll People by Ann M. Martin (256 pages, RL 4.6), a family of porcelain dolls that has lived in the same house for one hundred years is taken aback when a new family of renegade plastic dolls arrive.  Caitlin B. calls the story "fun, mysterious, and unique."

Sketch-a-Scene from The Doll People by Caitlin B.

Mix It Up with a Mystery Classic: From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler by E.L. Konigsburg (182 pages, RL 4.7).  In this Newbery-Award winning classic, Claudia Kincaid and her brother run away to the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City, plunging into a mystery involving a priceless work of art and the eccentric old woman who sold the piece to the museum. Brendan L. and Jack M. give the book high marks, recommending it to all Lafayette readers.  Kasra S. calls the book "exciting, adventurous, and daring."  And Max S. offers that the book might especially appeal to readers who like art and drawing.

Spy Time is over for now! It looks like we're clued into summer reading... lots of sleuthy stories, imaginative fiction, and series suggestions to keep us on the edge of our beach blanket!  

Tasty Summer Reading, Recipes Included!

School's out, and Lafayette Library Media Specialist Mrs. Cifrodella and daughters Julie and Jordan are serving up a heaping helping of summer reading: a baker's dozen of tempting tales, scrumptious stories, and delectable book recommendations.  There's something for everyone on the menu, so let's dig in!

For starters, Mrs. Cifrodella suggests historical fiction adventure, Turtle in Paradise by Jennifer L. Holm (RL 3.7).  In 1935, Turtle's mother finds work as a housekeeper for a woman who does not like children.  The eleven-year-old is sent to stay with relatives she has never met in Key West, Florida.  Before long, Turtle's world opens up in unexpected ways.

A sweet and satisfying summer tale: In The Penderwicks: A Summer Tale of Four Sisters, Two Rabbits, and a Very Interesting Boy by Jeanne Birdsall (RL 4.6), four sisters vacation with their widowed father in the Berkshire Mountains.  The girls share adventures with a local boy, much to the irritation of his snobbish mother.  Emma created a book trailer:

Speaking of sweet and satisfying... Julie C. is sampling a slice of Pie by Sarah Weeks (RL 5.6). When Alice’s Aunt Polly passes away, she entrusts the recipe for her world-famous pie crust to her disagreeable cat, Lardo, which she leaves in Alice’s care.  While everyone in the pie-crazy town attempts to discover the secret ingredients, Alice learns important lessons about friendship, faithfulness, and family.

Pie Diorama.

How about a piece of sci-fi pie?  In Pi in the Sky by Wendy Mass (RL 4.6), Earth has accidentally been erased from existence!  Joss-- seventh son of the Supreme Overlord of the Universe-- teams up with an outspoken human named Annika to re-create the vanished planet. 

Today’s special: Picture Book Pie!  With rhyming text and illustrations, How to Bake an American Pie by Karma Wilson (RL 3.3) shares a patriotic pie recipe, one prepared from all the things that make the United States special.

Another sweet reading treat: In It's Raining Cupcakes by Lisa Schroeder (RL 3.9), twelve-year-old Isabel dreams of seeing the world but has never ventured from Oregon.  Best friend Sophie  tells her about a baking contest, and Isabel enters the competition, hoping to travel to New York City.  But she worries about her Mother's newly-opened cupcake shop. Noreen shares a book trailer:

A companion book with more baking, more recipes, more friendship fun: In Sprinkles and Secrets by Lisa Schroeder (RL 3.7), twelve-year-old Sophie is thrilled to have the opportunity to audition for a television commercial... until she learns the advertiser is Beatrice's Brownies, a competitor with her best friend's family's cupcake shop. 

Sprinkles and Secrets Diorama.

Fresh-squeezed summer reading: In The Lemonade War by Jacqueline Davies (RL 3.1), Evan and younger sister Jesse operate rival lemonade stands, each trying to earn one hundred dollars before the end of summer.  The chapter book includes tips for operating a successful lemonade stand.  Take a look at a book trailer, created by Grace L.

Lemonade, with a life lesson: Using rhyming text and bright illustration, Alex and the Amazing Lemonade Stand by Liz Scott (RL 1.5) shares the true story of childhood cancer patient Alex Scott, who opened a lemonade stand to raise funds for cancer research, starting a nationwide movement, and inspiring this picture book about character, compassion, and courage: 

Hot weather, cool reading: Jordan C. recommends The House of Hades by Rick Riordan (RL 4.7) to Lafayette readers.  Packed with action, adventure, fantasy, and magic, Book Four in the Heroes of Olympus series follows Percy and Annabeth as they work with Greek and Roman demigods to seal the Doors of Death and escape the Underworld.

More action, more adventure, more fantasy, more magic... and pirates!  In Peter Pan by J. M. Barrie (RL 7.2), the three Darling children journey through Neverland with Peter Pan, the boy who never grows up.  Watch a classic video review for this classic story, created by Hailey C.

On the lookout for more pirates?  Check out Peter and the Starcatchers by Dave Barry and Ridley Pearson (RL 5.6).  Inspired by Peter Pan, this first-book-in-a-series tells the tale of orphan Peter and his friend Molly as they battle diabolical Black Stache and his evil associate Mister Grin.  Former Lafayette student Maddie P. gives the book high ratings, recommending it to adventure-loving readers.

A bestselling series to scoop: In Dork Diaries: Tales from a Not-So-Fabulous Life by Rachel Renee Russell (RL 5.8), fourteen-year-old Nikki Maxwell fills her diary with funny stories and fanciful sketches, describing eighth-grade life in a new private school.  Lafayette graduate Kristina S. recommends this series about friendship, popularity, bullying, and learning to be yourself.

There you have it: a baker's dozen, thirteen books to start our summer reading.  Hungry for more?  Check back soon for more recommendations and summer fun!